Cruise Frog guide

TUI Cruises

TUI Cruises is the German cruise line behind the Mein Schiff brand, a joint venture formed in 2007 in which the tourism group TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group each hold half. It began sailing in 2009 with the former Celebrity Galaxy, renamed Mein Schiff, and has since replaced its secondhand ships with newbuilds. Since 2020 it has also owned the luxury and expedition line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

Official site

Style

Premium

smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream

Best for

  • Couples
  • Families
  • Food lovers

Fleet rating

No ships rated yet.

About TUI Cruises

The Mein Schiff fleet now numbers nine ships: seven Blue Motion class ships built in Finland between 2014 and 2024, from Mein Schiff 3 to the enlarged Mein Schiff 1, 2 and 7, and two LNG-powered InTUItion class ships from Fincantieri, Mein Schiff Relax (2025) and Mein Schiff Flow (2026). Two more InTUItion class ships are on order for 2031 and 2032.

The product is built for German-speaking guests: German is the main language on board, and food, entertainment and service are tailored to German tastes. Fares follow a premium all-inclusive model that covers most restaurants and bistros, a long list of branded drinks, tips, an espresso machine in every cabin and German-speaking childcare. Ships sail from German ports to Northern Europe and Norway, from Palma in the Mediterranean, from the Canary Islands in winter, and from the Caribbean and Asia.

What TUI Cruises is known for

TUI Cruises is known in Germany for its all-inclusive Mein Schiff concept and a young fleet, most of it built for the line since 2014. Guest reviews tend to praise the food, the spacious open decks, pools and saunas, and the fact that drinks and gratuities are already in the fare, which makes the final bill predictable. The line's own comparison puts the extras guests would pay on other lines at well over a thousand euros per couple per week, though that figure is its own marketing claim.

The most common complaint from international guests is language: announcements, shows and most activities are in German, and reviewers who do not speak it often say they felt left out of the entertainment. Some find the onboard atmosphere calm rather than lively, with fewer thrill attractions than the big American lines. Specialty restaurants and some services still cost extra, and with the arrival of the 3,984-guest InTUItion class ships the fleet now includes much larger, busier vessels than the original Mein Schiff.

Who it's for

TUI Cruises suits German-speaking couples and families who want a polished, predictable holiday at sea with most food and drink included. Families get German-speaking kids' clubs, and food lovers get a wide choice of included restaurants and bistros. The variety of home ports, from Kiel and Bremerhaven to Palma, the Canaries, the Caribbean and Singapore, makes it easy to build a trip around a flight from Germany.

Travelers who do not speak German should look elsewhere, or at least expect most entertainment and announcements to pass them by. Those who want waterslides, Broadway-style production shows in English or a party atmosphere will find better matches on the large American lines, and guests looking for small-ship intimacy may prefer sister line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

Couples
romantic dining, quiet spaces, balcony cabins
Families
kids' clubs, family cabins, things for every age
Food lovers
dining is a reason to sail

How it rates

Compare lines

None of TUI Cruises's ships has been rated yet. A line's rating is the average of its ships' scores.

Where TUI Cruises sails

Ships in service

Ships

9 in service
Mein Schiff 1, photographed in January 2019Mein Schiff 12018 · 111,500 GT · 2,894 guests · CaribbeanMein Schiff 1 is a large German-language cruise ship built by Meyer Turku in Finland and delivered to TUI Cruises in 2018. She is a stretched version of the earlier Blue Motion…Mein Schiff 2 at the cruise terminal in Lisbon, 2019Mein Schiff 22019 · 111,500 GT · 2,894 guests · CaribbeanMein Schiff 2 is the second of TUI Cruises' enlarged Blue Motion ships, built by Meyer Turku and christened in Lisbon in February 2019. At about 111,500 gross tons she carries…Mein Schiff 3 at the Columbus Cruise Center, Bremerhaven, 2018Mein Schiff 32014 · 99,526 GT · 2,500 guests · Norwegian Fjords · Northern EuropeMein Schiff 3 was the first ship TUI Cruises had built for itself, delivered by STX Finland's Turku yard in May 2014 as the lead ship of the Blue Motion class. She measures…Mein Schiff 4 at night in Rostock, January 2021Mein Schiff 42015 · 99,526 GT · 2,506 guests · MediterraneanMein Schiff 4 is the second Blue Motion class ship of TUI Cruises, floated out at Meyer Turku in October 2014 and christened in Kiel in June 2015. Largely a copy of Mein Schiff…Mein Schiff 5 leaving Kiel for the first time, June 2016Mein Schiff 52016 · 98,785 GT · 2,534 guests · CaribbeanMein Schiff 5 is a Blue Motion class ship built by Meyer Turku and delivered to TUI Cruises in June 2016. She measures 98,785 gross tons and carries 2,534 guests at double…Mein Schiff 6 in Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2024Mein Schiff 62017 · 98,811 GT · 2,534 guests · AsiaMein Schiff 6 is the fourth Blue Motion class ship of TUI Cruises, built by Meyer Turku and christened in Hamburg in June 2017. She measures 98,811 gross tons, carries 2,534…Mein Schiff 7 at Pier 27, Tallinn, August 2024Mein Schiff 72024 · 112,982 GT · 2,896 guests · Canary IslandsMein Schiff 7 is the last of TUI Cruises' Blue Motion ships, delivered by Meyer Turku in June 2024 and christened in Kiel later that month. A sister to Mein Schiff 1 and 2, she…Mein Schiff Flow2026 · 3,984 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsMein Schiff Flow is the second InTUItion class ship of TUI Cruises and a sister to Mein Schiff Relax. Fincantieri handed her over at Monfalcone on 12 June 2026, her first voyage…Mein Schiff Relax in Tallinn, June 2026Mein Schiff Relax2025 · 160,000 GT · 3,984 guests · Canary Islands · Northern EuropeMein Schiff Relax is the first InTUItion class ship and the largest in the TUI Cruises fleet, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and delivered in February 2025. She measures…

Former ships

All retired ships
ShipLeft
Mein Schiff HerzApril 2023

Where to fly in

All ports

Quick answers

What is TUI Cruises known for?

TUI Cruises is known in Germany for its all-inclusive Mein Schiff concept and a young fleet, most of it built for the line since 2014. Guest reviews tend to praise the food, the spacious open decks, pools and saunas, and the fact that drinks and gratuities are already in the fare, which makes the final bill predictable. The line's own comparison puts the extras guests would pay on other lines at well over a thousand euros per couple per week, though that figure is its own marketing claim.

Who is TUI Cruises best for?

TUI Cruises suits German-speaking couples and families who want a polished, predictable holiday at sea with most food and drink included. Families get German-speaking kids' clubs, and food lovers get a wide choice of included restaurants and bistros. The variety of home ports, from Kiel and Bremerhaven to Palma, the Canaries, the Caribbean and Singapore, makes it easy to build a trip around a flight from Germany.

Where does TUI Cruises sail?

TUI Cruises's ships in service sail Caribbean (4 ships), Canary Islands (4 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Norwegian Fjords (2 ships) and Asia (1 ship).

How many ships does TUI Cruises have?

TUI Cruises has 9 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Mein Schiff 1, Mein Schiff 2, Mein Schiff 3, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 5, Mein Schiff 6, Mein Schiff 7 and Mein Schiff Flow, and 1 more.

Who owns TUI Cruises?

TUI Cruises is part of TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group (50/50 joint venture).

Where is TUI Cruises based?

TUI Cruises is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. It has operated since 2007.

What is the largest TUI Cruises ship?

Mein Schiff Relax is TUI Cruises's largest ship at 160,000 gross tons, carrying 3,984 guests.

Cruising with children

Mein Schiff’s family offer gives different starting points for toddlers, school-age children and teens. Language and parent participation should be checked along with age.

Read the TUI Cruises family guide →